Child Vaccines, Tim Walz, & Spider Discovery

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
January 06, 2026

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The CDC announced Monday it reduced universal childhood vaccine schedule recommendations from 18 to 11 diseases, effective immediately. The change follows President Trump's directive to align US policy more closely with Denmark’s schedule.
Vaccines for flu, COVID, RSV, and rotavirus are now "recommended" rather than universal, meaning doctors and parents decide together. Hepatitis A and meningitis vaccines are limited to high-risk groups only. The schedule guides insurance coverage and state school attendance requirements.
HHS said a review of 20 peer nations found the US was an “outlier” in universal vaccine recommendations. Health Secretary RFK Jr. said the changes “protect children, respect families, and rebuild trust.” Pediatricians disputed the comparison, arguing that vaccine policies reflect local disease risks and health systems.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Monday he will not seek a third term, saying efforts to address fraud in childcare programs and other state services require his full attention.
The decision comes after federal agents raided more than 30 sites across Minneapolis last week as part of a fraud investigation. The Trump administration also froze federal childcare payments to Minnesota, though state investigators said the affected facilities were “operating as expected.” Walz condemned the administration’s rhetoric, calling its attacks on Minnesota’s Somali community “disgusting and dangerous.”
Walz’s exit opens a high-profile race. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) is seriously considering a gubernatorial run, while Republicans—who have not won the office in nearly two decades—face a crowded primary that includes MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.

Federal health officials announced that at-home cervical cancer screening will be covered by private insurance starting January 2027. The Health Resources and Services Administration now recommends high-risk HPV testing every five years for women ages 30 to 65, with patients able to self-collect samples at home as an alternative to in-office pelvic exams.
The FDA approved the first at-home test kit in May 2025, and the new HRSA guidance makes the option eligible for insurance coverage. The move targets a major screening gap: about one in four US women are not up to date with cervical cancer screening, and roughly half of diagnoses occur in women who were never screened or are overdue.
Detection timing is critical. Cervical cancer has a five-year survival rate above 90% when caught early, compared with about 20% in later stages.

Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in his first US court appearance. (More)

A man was arrested after breaking windows at Vice President JD Vance's Cincinnati home overnight while the Vance family was in Washington. (More)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he's downgrading Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly's military retirement rank and pay over a video in which he urged troops not to follow illegal orders. (More)

Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, and Paraguay blocked entry for Venezuelan officials after Maduro's detention, while Colombia kept its border open but deployed 30,000 troops to prevent unrest. (More)

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung and China's Xi Jinping pledged to boost trade and maintain regional peace despite North Korea's recent missile tests threatening stability. (More)

Eva Schloss, Anne Frank's stepsister and Auschwitz survivor who spent decades warning against treating people as "other," died at 96. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +0.64%, Nasdaq +0.69%, Dow +1.23%). Stocks rose despite the US attack on Venezuela and capture of Nicolas Maduro, as investors bet the action won't trigger broader conflicts that could upset markets. (More)

GM's 2025 US sales climbed 5.5% on EV and SUV strength, outpacing the industry's 2% rise as Toyota gained 8% and Stellantis' Jeep notched its first gain since 2018. (More)

A Japanese sushi chain paid $3.2 million for a 535-pound bluefin tuna at Tokyo's first fish auction of 2026, more than double last year's record. (More)

The NFL released its wild-card playoff schedule spanning Saturday through Monday, beginning with Carolina vs Los Angeles for the 4:30 pm opener. (More)

The Grammys revived best album cover as a separate award after 50 years, nominating art for Wet Leg, Bad Bunny, Tyler the Creator, and others. (More)

The Raiders fired Pete Carroll after going 3-14 with two shutout losses. It will be their fourth head coaching change since 2022. (More) | The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski after 6 seasons. (More)

Conspiracy believers typically can't tolerate ambiguity and feel victimized by injustice, so they latch onto simple theories that make chaotic events feel certain and controlled, researchers found. (More)

Britain banned junk food ads on TV before 9 pm and online entirely to fight childhood obesity. The rules cover 13 high-fat, high-sugar product categories. (More)

US flu hospitalizations jumped 48% in one week to 120,000 this season. Children are hit hardest, and outpatient visits have reached the highest level since 1997. (More)

Handy chart tells you when it’s too cold to walk your dog.

Newly discovered spider species looks like a Pokémon.

Photos of last weekend’s wolf supermoon.

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